Alabama’s congressional delegation celebrated the passage this week of the annual defense bill, highlighting several inclusions that will see hundreds of millions of dollars invested in Alabama.
At $866 billion, this year’s National Defense Authorization Act is the largest in history and represents a more than 8% increase over 2023’s $816.7 billion.
It passed the Senate on Wednesday and the House on Thursday. It awaits President Joe Biden’s signature.
Congressman Mike Rogers, R-Saks, is chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. He played a pivotal role in crafting the bill and steering its passage through a divided Congress.
“Our country faces more national security threats than ever, and it has never been more important to fund our defense,” Rogers said in a written statement. “Yet, the Biden Administration continues to attempt to use the military as a conduit for leftist political initiatives. This bill refocuses our military on lethality, establishes rigorous oversight on Biden’s DOD, and cements Alabama’s place as a leader in national security.”
The Alabama delegation also celebrated NDAA language targeted at another state. It prevents further construction at the U.S. Space Command headquarters in Colorado Springs, Coli. until the completion of two independent investigations on Biden’s selection of that site after previous announcements the headquarters would be in Huntsville.
Provisions notably absent from the defense bill were restrictions on funding expenses for service members traveling for abortions, something Sen. Tommy Tuberville had considered his last hope to overturn the Pentagon’s abortion policies after blocking military nominations for more than nine months.
“I voted for this year’s defense bill for two reasons: because it’s good for Alabama and it’s good for our national security,” Tuberville said Thursday in a statement.
Calling the bill a win for Alabama, Tuberville lamented the loss of some of his sought-after inclusions in the bill such as restricting abortion and diversity, equity and inclusion provisions, but vowed to secure them into next year’s defense bill.
“We didn’t get everything we wanted this time, but we got a lot,” he said. “And my fellow conservatives in Alabama and across America can be sure that I’m determined to get the rest of it in next year’s bill.”
Of that $866 million, a considerable amount will be invested in Alabama’s military bases and defense industry, something Tuberville attributed in part to his efforts in the Senate Armed Services Committee. For the Missile Defense Agency, an arm of the Department of Defense, the bill allocates $1.5 billion, some of which will be used for missile production at the Lockheed Martin facility in Troy.
Other direct investments in Alabama from the defense bill include:
- Over $117 million will be directed to the Redstone Arsenal
- Over $68 million will be directed to the Alabama Army National Guard
- Over $65 million will be directed to Maxwell Air Force Base
- Over $41 million will be directed to Fort Novosel
- Over $16 million will be directed to the Anniston Army Depot
- Over $7 million will be directed to the Alabama Air National Guard
- $68 million for a Ground Test Facility at Redstone
- $65 million for Military Family Housing at Maxwell
- $57 million for a new Army Reserve Center in Birmingham
- $41.2 million for new Barracks at Ft. Rucker
Other, less direct funding allocations that will still benefit Alabama include:
- Authorizes over $120 million for DoD research and development projects throughout Alabama
- Authorizes $6 billion for Columbia procurement and industrial base improvements, benefitting Austal USA
- Prohibits KC-135 retirement, preserving footprint at Sumpter Smith Air National Guard Base
- Authorizes a new grant program for infrastructure improvements at private shipyards, such as Alabama Shipyards
- Requires the Army to implement plans to improve telecommunication infrastructure at National Guard installations
- Authorizes $20 million over the budget request for additional Lakota helicopters used for training at Ft. Novosel
There are more than 37,000 service members stationed in Alabama.
“This legislation includes a 5.2 percent pay raise for our troops, forces the Biden Administration to resume construction of the wall at our southern border, and ensures that all future military promotions are solely based on an individual’s performance and merit,” U.S. Sen. Katie Britt said.
While Republicans wanted to restrict diversity initiatives at the Pentagon, Democrats largely kept those provisions in the final bill. That’s why Rep. Terri Sewell, D-Birmingham, said she supported it.
“As a member of the House Armed Services Committee and the representative for critical military installations in Alabama, I take very seriously my responsibility to provide our service members with the tools and support they need to keep our nation safe,” Sewell said in a written statement. “Though I was profoundly disappointed when extreme Republicans hijacked the previous version of this bill, I am grateful that Democrats successfully stripped out their amendments attacking diversity and reproductive health care. With these provisions removed, I was proud to continue the solemn tradition of supporting the NDAA and our national defense.”
“I am absolutely thrilled that we secured a number of key wins in this year’s NDAA including a 5.2 percent pay raise for Alabama’s 37,000 service members and a record $150 million in research funding for our nation’s HBCUs and (minority serving institutions),” Sewell said.
“The bill also makes significant investments in North Alabama and is yet another example of the importance of the region to U.S. national security,” Rep. Dale Strong, R-Huntsville, said. “I will continue to fight for the people of Alabama’s Fifth District and ensure that everyone knows our nation is made safer by North Alabama.”
Said Rep. Robert Aderholt, R-Haleyville: “Today, I voted in favor of this year’s National Defense Authorization Act, the NDAA, authorizing critical funds for our nation’s military. I am proud to support a 5.2% pay raise for our troops, directing the Department of Defense to help secure our Southern border, and scrutinizing the Biden Administration’s politicized basing decision that would deny the US Space Command its rightful and preferred home in Alabama.”
Rep. Jerry Carl, R-Mobile, highlighted in the bill the more than $300 million in capital spending at Alabama installations and two new ships to be built by Austal in Mobile.
Rep. Barry Moore, R-Enterprise, was the lone no vote in the Alabama delegation.
“This version of the NDAA forces American taxpayers to fund abortion travel, sex reassignment surgeries, a one-year reauthorization of FISA with no reforms, which allows weaponized government to spy on Americans, and critical race theory initiatives teaching that our nation’s enemies are not abroad, but within our own citizens and military,” Moore said.
Alabama Daily News’ Mary Sell contributed to this report.